Former Tropical Storm Dujuan strengthened to a typhoon on Friday as it moved over the Western North Pacific Ocean northwest of Iwo To. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Dujuan was located at latitude 26.5°N and longitude 139.4°E which put the center about 140 miles (225 km) northwest of Iwo To. Dujuan was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.
Former Tropical Storm Dujuan strengthened to a typhoon on Friday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the southern and eastern side of the center of Typhoon Dujuan. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of Dujuan’s circulation. Bands in the southern side of Typhoon Dujuan consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Dujuan generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The strongest winds were occurring close to the center of Typhoon Dujuan. Winds to typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Dujuan’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) in the northern side of Typhoon Dujuan. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the southern half of Dujuan’s circulation.
Typhoon Dujuan will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Dujuan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge that is southeast of Japan. The upper level ridge will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Dujuan’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Typhoon Dujuan could intensify a little more during the next 24 hours.
Typhoon Dujuan will move around the western part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Dujuan toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Dujuan will move closer to Honshu during the weekend.